Pelargonium plant named ‘Duevilicha’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Zonal  Geranium  plant named ‘Duevilicha’, characterized by its upright to outwardly spreading plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely basal branching habit; dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern; freely flowering habit; semi-double purple-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Pelargonium zonale.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Duevilicha’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of ZonalGeranium plant, botanically known as Pelargonium zonale, and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Duevilicha’.

The new Zonal Geranium plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program is to create new vigorous Zonal Geranium plants withdark green-colored leaves and attractive flowers.

The new Zonal Geranium plant originated from a cross-pollination made bythe Inventor in July, 2005 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0138-001,not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Pelargonium zonale identified as code number F-22-09, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Zonal Geranium plantwas discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plantfrom within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Zonal Geranium plant by vegetativeterminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg,Germany since May, 2008, has shown that the unique features of this newZonal Geranium plant are stable and reproduced true to type insuccessive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature andlight intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Duevilicha’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Duevilicha’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofZonal Geranium:

-   -   1. Upright to outwardly spreading plant habit.    -   2. Vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Freely basal branching habit.    -   4. Dark green-colored leaves with a distinct zonation pattern.    -   5. Freely flowering habit.    -   6. Semi-double purple-colored flowers.    -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium differ primarily from plants of theparent selections in flower color as plants of the female parentselection have pink-colored flowers and plants of the male parentselection have light purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Zonal Geranium can be compared to plants ofPelargonium zonale ‘Calypso’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 6,378. Inside-by-side comparisons conducted in Rheinberg, Germany, plants of thenew Zonal Geranium differed primarily from plants of ‘Calypso’ in growthhabit as plants of the new Zonal Geranium were more vigorous than plantsof ‘Calypso’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearanceof the new Zonal Geranium plant, showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values citedin the detailed botanical description which accurately describe thecolors of the new Zonal Geranium plant. The photograph comprises a sideperspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Duevilicha’ grown in acontainer.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown in 10.5-cm containers in Rheinberg,Germany in a glass-covered greenhouse during the summer and underconditions which closely approximate commercial production. During theproduction of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. andlight levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were pinched one time threeweeks after planting. Plants had been growing for 13 weeks when thephotograph and the description were taken. In the detailed description,color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society ColourChart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Pelargonium zonale ‘Duevilicha’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Pelargonium zonale identified as code number Z02-0138-001,            not patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Pelargonium            zonale identified as code number F-22-09, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at            temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four            weeks at temperatures of 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching.-   Plant description:    -   -   General appearance.—Upright to outwardly spreading plant            habit; uniformly rounded; densely foliated.        -   Growth and branching habit.—Vigorous growth habit; freely            basal branching habit with about three basal branches            developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch            development.        -   Plant height to top of flower umbels.—About 25 cm.        -   Plant height to top of foliar plane.—About 22 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 6 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Internode length: About 1.25 cm. Texture: Pubescent.            Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 144A.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 7.4 cm.        -   Width.—About 8.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Reniform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.        -   Texture, upper surface.—Pubescent.        -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A.            Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 143A. Fully            expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 146A; venation,            close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close            to 146A; venation, close to 144A.        -   Zonation pattern.—Distinct. Distance from margin: About            7 mm. Width: About 1.6 cm. Color: Close to 147A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 8.1 cm. Diameter: About 2.6 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper surface: Close to 144A. Color, lower surface: Close to            144B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Semi-double rotate flowers arranged in            rounded hemispherical umbels arising from apical leaf axils;            umbels displayed above the foliage on moderately strong            peduncles; flowers face upright to outward.        -   Fragrance.—Not detected.        -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 20            flowers and flower buds per umbel.        -   Flowering season.—Year-round under greenhouse conditions; in            outdoor nurseries and gardens in Germany flowering is            continuous from spring throughout the summer; plants begin            flowering about eight weeks after planting.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five to            seven days on the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Umbel height.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Umbel diameter.—About 9 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.7 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.1 cm. Diameter: About 8 mm.            Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 66A.        -   Petals.—Quantity per flower: About seven or eight. Length:            About 3 cm. Width: About 2.8 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening,            upper surface: Close to 74A. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 73A. Fully expanded, upper surface: Close to 74A.            Fully expanded, lower surface: Close to 74B to 74C; color            becoming closer to 74A with development.        -   Petaloids.—Quantity per flower: About one or two. Length:            About 2.2 cm. Width: About 5.7 mm. Shape: Obovate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Sinuate. Texture, upper            and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When opening            and fully opened, upper surface: Close to 74A. When opening            and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 74B.        -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: Five, arranged in a single            whorl. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Ensiform. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Peduncle (umbel stem).—Length: About 11.7 cm. Diameter:            About 3.7 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 144A.        -   Pedicel (individual flower stem).—Length: About 2.5 cm.            Diameter: About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 183A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity per flower:            About eight. Filament length: About 7 mm. Filament color:            Close to 155C. Anther length: About 2.3 mm. Anther shape:            Oval. Anther color: Close to 58A. Pollen amount: Moderate.            Pollen color: Close to 28A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity per            flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:            Parted. Stigma color: Close to 61A. Style length: About            2 mm. Style color: Close to 61A. Ovary color: Close to 144A.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit development have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have not    been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Zonal    Geraniums.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Zonal Geranium have been    observed to tolerate rain, wind, and temperatures ranging from about    5° C. to about 40° C. and have demonstrated good garden performance.

1. A new and distinct Zonal Geranium plant named ‘Duevilicha’ asillustrated and described.